Plating-machine.



No. 594,482. PATENTEDJULY z8, 1908.v

S. C. GATLIN.

'PLATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAB..12. 1907.

.a SHEETS-SHEET z.

No. 894,482. s. c. GATLIN.

PLATING MACHINE.A APPLICATION FILED MAR.12. 1907..

PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mr/l ATT RNEY WITNESSES icm@ afjl c. cATLiN, F BtooMFIELD, New messy.

PLATING-MACHLNE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SETH CiCATLiN, a citizen of the'United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county of Essex and State of New Jere sey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plating-Machines and I do hereby declare the following to be la full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to -letters of reference marked thereon, which forma part of this specification. i

This invention relates to a machine used for eiectroplating, and embodies a casing provided with baskets or receptacles capable of a rotary motion, these baskets or recepta- Speieation of Letters Patent.

- Application led March 12, 1907. Serial No. 361,986.

cles being arranged inhearings in the sides of the casing. l

l`he invention is further desi rned to irovide a machine, of this kind, that provides the baskets with either a continuous rotary motion or a reciprocating rotary motion, and means are provided for transmitting motion from` one basket to the next, whereby a series of baskets can be installed in the saine casing.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means for rotating the baskets, this means `allowing a ready Withdrawal of the basket when the cover of the basket is uppermost.

Another new feature about this device is the means for engaging the articles being plated trical current, this meansy embodying 'a construction that provides for this absolute contact, both when the basketsr are rotating conf tinuously, or when they have the reciprocating motion. i i

A still further object is .toprovide the baskets or receptacles with means for causing a positive tumbling or a ritation of the artil cles being platedw iich is( esirable and necer sary for good work, this tumbling being caused by the construction oll the receptacle itsell, theI baskets heilig ada ited, more particularly, .for the plating ol small articles, such as safety pins, and other pieces of work that are thrownv into; a plating machine in considerable quantities.

A still further object oi' the invention is to irovide an anode electrode that comforms largely to the shape of the baskets containing so as to insure their being in the elec-V solution in the plating tank, and for A further object of the invention is to the cathode electrode, the work, and also to Patented .iuy es, i908.

the work, and this anode electrode is thus enabled to be close tothe work, which brings about better plating-the object in all machines being to bring the Work as near as possible to the anode. The anode is also designedto provide for the circulation of the easy means for securing the anode to the machine. PTO- vide an improved means for conducting the current from the outside of the receptacle,

for thework, to the inside of the basket to or in 'other words to provide a bail shaped electrode that is not a t to be coat-ed or plated, and which provi es a more direct application of current to the work.

The invention is illustrated in the accom` panying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a section of a plating machine of my improved construction, showing one of the receptacles, and one of the anode electrodes in elevation. Fig. 2 is a transverse section through one of the receptacles. Fig. 3 is a section of a receptacle showing a means for 'withdrawing it from the machine, also illustrating a modified form of cathode connection. Fig. 4 is a view of a part of one of the gear wheels used for causing the rota tion of the baskets. Fig. 5 is a plan of one of the improved anode electrodes, and Fig` 6 is a diagrammatic View showing one means of supplying the receptacles or baskets with a rotary reci rocat'ing motion. `ig. 7 is an' end View o a basket with a mor ified form of means for conducting current to the inside of the basket or recptacle, and Fig. 8 is a section oi' the endof the basket, within the tank,

and

and showing in section the means illustrated in. Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a modified form of a roller usedin connection with the apparatus shown inFigs. 7 and 8. Figi() is an elevation of a modified form-of bail shaped electrode, and Fig. l l' is a cross-section of the same.

lf employ,.in this machine, any usual form ol` casing l() which is provided with the receptacles or baskets'll, these baskets being arranged to hold thcavork to be plated which is (.onne ".ted to or becomes the cathode electrode. 'lhese baskets each consists oi' end plates l2 which are' preferably iliade olwood, or can be made of other insulating or nonconduoting material, and connecting these end plates l2 are semi-circular strips 13, tho inner ones being attached to the end plates,

. semi-circular strips 13 are then secured in place by means of the scrmvs 53, shown in4 Fig. Around the outside edge of each of the end plates 12 is a strip 15 usuali)T made ol' brass, and one end of each strip having secured, by solder or otherwise, a screw 1S which passes through and is secured to a bracket 17, bl) means o1l a nut 1t) which causes the band 15 to be drawn verytaut, th'` other end. of the band 15 being secured to .t stud or screw by means of a key-hole slot arranged in that end.

'lhe basket or receptacle is opened at the.

top, and hason each end of the opening', a strip 2l shown more particularly in Fig. 2, which strip receives the cover 22 which has the bars 22% with one end cutaway tp lit under one ol' the longitudinal strips I3, andhaving a center bar 24 which can slide., and has one end to engage .the other side of the rta-eptacle and tit under one ol' the semi-circular strips 13. When the c over is to be disengaged, the handle. 25 .is slid back which causes a st ud 26, secured in the bar 24, to move the. bar back, and the cover can be wit-lnlrawn. When the cover is put in place, a spring 27, bearing on the handle 25, insures the locking of the cover, and no accidental loss of articles in the. receptacles is apt to occur'. On one side each basket or receptacle is .provided wit-h a stud 2b which lits into a slotted bearing 2S), which will be described hereinafter. y

On theopposite end a bearing plated() is provided with a stud 31, on which is loosely arranged a. lgear-wheel` 'lhese gearwheels 32, on each basket, are arranged to 'ol' the basket.

be in mesh, and in thisway the motion in one is transmitted to the other. The gear-wheel 32 of cach receptacle is provided Wit-h a pair olI guides 335 forming a Way between them, and this is designed to hold a pin 37 which is arranged cccentritatlly on the end plate 12 the gear-wheel 32, is a collar 34 that is secured against rotation on the stud by means oll a screw 35. The collar is slotted to receive a stud 37 which is free lto rotate in the collar Ill. ccptacle can be withdrawn by havin T the studs Il?" and 37 pass up in the way between thc guides 3?), when the cover ol' the receptacle isnpperinost, At the same time the receptacle' can be rotated, positively, by this means. In the receptacle or basket is ar- ()n the stud 31, outside oflt willthus be seen that the re ranged a bail shaped electrode 3S which is provided with a series of short chains 3U, the electrode being preferably made ofspring metal and adapted to be rotatably arranged in the end plates, and held therein by its own spring action. The chain 3! might be dispensed with, but is thought desirable on account of its passing through the work when it is composed of small articles, and insuring the contact elia-trically. Arranged around each receptacle is my improved anode electrode 4l which, in cross-section, is U- sliaped and has the end loops 42 which are bent over and suspend the anode from the rods 4() which can be secured in any desired way. The Amode has slots 4?, arranged transversely .and preferably conlined to its lower portion, these openings providing for the ready llow of solution through the anode into the basket or receptacle thus insuring a perfect circulation. The t-lecti'ical' current passes through these a nodes and then through the work, the other connection ofthe machine being through the binding posts 44p, thesey binding posts 44 being arranged on the bearings 2t), the connections being illustrated in Fig. l, and Fig. l showing how the current will pass from the bearing 29 through the stud 2S, into the electrode 3t-`,'by reason. ol` the contact oll the elect rode with the stud.

When the machines are large and agood many articles are put into a basket, they are extremely heavy to lil't and time can not be taken to let them drain properly. 'lo ol vi- 'ate this dilliculty, l provide cach of thc side pieces with a perforation Al5 into which fits the ends tti of a handle 4T. the ends 46 being sprung into the perl'orations or recesses 45, and held therein by their spring action. A rope 4S overa suitable pulley Lit), which can be. attached toa moving element, icrniits the removal and also the draining ol'A tlie basket.

lt will bc seen 'from the construction ol machine herein' described, that one basket can be removed out oli a series, and the rest` will keep up their' action, as the gear-wlncls remain in the machine. and form a transmitting medium. The bearings for the bearing plates 30 are usually formed of the screws 52, titting in the slots 5() and being'screwed into the casing 1t), whereby any adjustment newssary can be secured.

vWhen a reciprocating motion is desired, a reciprocating scmi-circular rack 54 is in mesh with one of the gear-wheels 32, and a link 55, a cog-wheel 56, and a suitable worm-wheel 57 will cause the required motion of the basket. When a steady 'rotary motion is desired, the worin-wheel 58, shown in dotted outline in Fig. 1, is in mesh with one of the gear-wheels 32. When the connection is made as shown in Fig. 2, between the bearing 2t), the stud 2S, and the electrode 353, the stud 2.8 will become plated, to a slight extent, under some cond itions, and it is necessary, on each removal of the basket, 4to file the stud slightly to remove the plating.I therefrom. Tov overcome the `slight objection some operatorsv might have to this, I havedevised a reciprocating motion, and in this-construction I employ ay and it can be rovided with enough slack toy ward or forward motion due allow any bac to the rocking of the basket. In ythc baskets, the longitudinal semiecircular strips '13,

' or agitated,` and v mixing of the artic on the inside, act to engage the articles being plated, and to insuretheir being tumbled providesfg'for athorough es on each rotation being carried part way around on these semi-circular strips, and then being -deposited back `at the bottomjafter they have arrived above the center of thc'basket, as will be understood.

In the modified form of basket connection shown in Figs. 7 and 8, I employ an annular metallic ring 59, preferably aluminum, on account of its tendency to throw off any plating, in otherword's 1t will not plate, and

this annular ring 59 has arms 60 which 'con-v neet with a'een tral hub on which is mounted the stud 37 on which the basket rotates. of the arnis 6() is turned. in, at 61, and passes through the end wall of the basket and down on the inside, as at 62 where it connects with a metal plate 63 in which is rotatably arranged the bail shaped electrode 38. As the basket rotates, the ring 59'connects with a roller (i4 which is mounted on a spring arm 65, and has the binding post 66 for making electrical connection. Thus the basket can pass from the binding post into the electrode 38, andthe basketcan be revolved continuously.

It has been .found that good work will rerult from an interru )ted current, and when this current is desired, I can employ the roller (3T, shown in Fig. 9", which is of metal, and

t has the insulated strips 68 thereby forming a species of conlniutator 1n which the current 1s interrupted, and these insulated strips 68 can be disposed, as desired, only one being used in of work, and four or To )revent the bail sha ed a roller for certain kinds live lor another.

eli--. ti'olle becomingp ated or covered wit a deposit, I can cover it as shown in Figs. 10 and H, where I employ a rubber tubing 6.() on each end ol' thel electrode 38, the rubber tubing then being cut off, and the rest ofthe elee'trode,.shown very much shortened 1n Eig. l1(-), is. revered by an envelop 70 which is preferably Vinadegof wood. To connect with .the work in the basket, `I screw Athis screwees -through the envelopk 7() up into the electrode 38, and frein these screw-eyes dc pe'nd thellexible rai e1s`39.' This construe tion covers theib'all shaped electrode, and the solution doesmt act on it, but at the same .time it acts to readily transmit current'from the ends ofthe basket, or its electrical conwords thelwork being plated.

It `will thus bessen that I have devised a machine for plating that embodies a series of rotarybaskets, one or all of which can be removed at will without stopping the machine on the removal of one and causing any cessation in the work of the other baskets.

I claim is z comprising a frame made of end plates and longitudinal strips, a covering of flexible fabric on vthe strips, and means for removably securing the fabric to the end plates and the strips.

2. In' an electro-plating machine, a basket comprising end plates, longitudinal strips connecting the end' plates, and projecting partly-within thebasket, and strips clamping the fabric to tire first strips.

3. In an electro-plating machine, a basket comprising` end plates, longitudinal strips connecting the end plates, and projecting partly vwithin the basket, a fabric covering,- strips clamping the fabric to the fil'st'strips, and a band on each end plate to clamp the fabric thereto.

4. .In an electi( )plating machine, abasket comprising end plates, strips connecting the 'end plates, the strips and theend plates'be.- ing perforated, a fabric covering thc basket,v pins passing through the fabric and removably arranged in the perforations, a band covering the end plates and holding the pins therein, anda second set'of strips coveringr the fabric on the first strips.

comprising end plates, a fabric covering between the endrplates, studs projecting from the end plates, an electrode in the basket and connected. electrically with one' of the studs, l 6. In an electro-plating machine, a basket comprising end plates, a fabric covering between the end plates, studs projecting from the end plates, a bail shaped electrode inthe basket and arra'nged to rotate in theend plates, -one end of the electrode extending through its end plate to contact with one of the studs.- 7. In an electro-platingmachine, a tank having a basket to revolve thereon, studs on the basket, a'bearing on one side of the tank to receive one of the studs, a bearing plate on the other side'fof theta-nk having a stud projecting from it, a gear-wheel loosely arranged on the stud of the bearing plate, a collar se# `cured to thestud of the bearing plate and having a recess in its topedge to receive the arranged on the end adjacent to the D fear- Wheel andbeing disposed eccentrically therenection lto' the cathodeelectrode, or in other Having thusdescribed my invention, whatV a fabric covering,`

5. In anelctro-plating machine, a basket other stud of the basket, a stud on the basket 1. In an electro-plating machine, a'basket on, and guidesforming a Way on the gear# -wheel to receive the eccentric stud of the with the stud, a bearing plate on the side` of thetank from the slotted bearing, the bearing plate having a stud thereon, a gearwheel loosely mounted on the stud, a collar on the stud beyond the gear-Wheel, the collar being secured'to the stud. and having a slot in its upper edge to receive the second stud of the basket. y

f). In an electro-plating machine, a basket comprising end plates, and a covering between the end plates, and an electrode adapted to rotate in the end plates', one end of the l electrode extending through its end plate to provide an electrical contacting surface.

10. In an electro-plating machine, a basket comprising end plates and a covering, a bail shaped electrode rotatably arrange(l in the basket, the end lates having recesses in which the ends of t ie electrode are adapted to be sprung.

11. In an electrofplating machine, a bail shaped electrode having a central insulated portion, the ends of the electrode having a spring action tending outwardly, and a series of 'flexible conducting strands connected to the electrode through the insulation.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my hand this Sth day of March 1907.

' SETH C. CATLIN. Witnesses z M. .Louisa CATLIN, ,EMMA F. CA'ILIN. 

